A Photo Journal

images by Matt MacPake

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Outside the factory, Carlisle, Cumbria

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Nice Biscuits, Carlisle, Cumbria 

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Stuart, outside the factory, Carlisle Cumbria

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Outside the factory, Carlisle Cumbria

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Ginger Nuts, Carlisle, Cumbria

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Bourbon Biscuits, tops & bottoms, Carlisle Cumbria 

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Noreen, The Biscuit Factory, Carlisle Cumbria

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Inside the biscuit factory, Carlisle Cumbria

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The Iconic Carr’s Table Water Biscuit, Carlisle, Cumbria.

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Carr’s iconic table water biscuit in production. 

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Cracker Packers

The iconic Carr’s of Carlisle factory has been synonymous with the city for nearly two hundred years. Home to the famous Carr’s Table Water Biscuit as well as other British classics, Custard Creams, Bourbons, Ginger Nuts and many others under the McVitie's, Jacobs', Crawford’s and Carr’s brands.

On Friday 7th January 2005 heavy rainfall left Cumbria devastated by floods. Ten years later, in December 2015, history repeated itself when storm Desmond reeked widespread havoc across Cumbria, Lancashire & Yorkshire.

For a second time damage across the county was devastating. Carr’s Biscuit factory was overwhelmed by the floodwaters (one estimate suggested that up to 10 million gallons of water flooded into the premises) and production lines were halted. The impact of the factory closure was felt across the country, and a national biscuit shortage was headline news. After months of painstaking cleaning and rebuilding, production begin again in April 2016 - not a moment too soon, as the nation demanded their much loved tea break treats.

Over the generations, workers at the factory have been affectionately nicknamed ‘Cracker Packers’. This project celebrates those hardworking ladies and gentlemen, and re-opening of the factory, which in itself represents the resilience of City of Carlisle as it recovers once again.

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Hashtag Photography Magazine: Europe Edition

Well 2016 has been a very strange & worrying year! 

I'm proud to have work published in the new edition, of the excellent, #Photography magazine, #EuropeEdition

It's amazing to be amongst such fantastic photographers. You can have a read of the magazine here http://www.hashtagphotographymagazine.co.uk/

Huge thanks to the Photograd team for selecting my work for this feature.

Cover image: Daniel Garcia Castro

Here's hoping 2017 is better for everybody all over the world.

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Spectrum Instagram Takeover

Hello I'm taking over @SpectrumLab #Instagram account all this week. Come & follow the fun! http://tinyurl.com/hmlkj4x Portrait - Jack,

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British Journal of Photography: Portrait of Britain.

Wilhelmena, Angel Station Bus Stop, London 2016

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British Journal of Photography: Portrait of Britain.

Wilhelmena, Liverpool Street, Train Station, London 2016

Huge thanks to Paul Meyler for this photograph!

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British Journal of Photography: Portrait of Britain. 

Wilhelmena, Waterloo Train Station, London 2016 

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Photograd Spotlight Feature: Jon Tonks

Wow! I'm delighted to have been selected in Photograd Spotlight feature by the brilliant Jon Tonks, thank you for your kind words.

"Matt’s work is very solid and graphically interesting, and To & from the North Circular is a very appealing body of work. An A-road could be considered a rather unusual starting point for a project, however, it’s testament to taking a relatively simple idea and allowing it to flourish into a great selection of photographs - the behemoth lump that is 27.5 miles of concrete anchors the work to a geographical location for the audience to understand and relate to, tying it together and resulting in a wonderful series."

http://tinyurl.com/hmgkqe8